Yeah me too, I've grown cynical to CEO's who hint their products are giant killers. I hope V Sonic pulls it off but I'm not holding my breath until I hear some reviews from people I trust who know what they're talking about.

Yeah me too, I've grown cynical to CEO's who hint their products are giant killers. I hope V Sonic pulls it off but I'm not holding my breath until I hear some reviews from people I trust who know what they're talking about.

Merry Xmas Everyone: God Bless You and Your Family

Same here. I think his attitude, or at least how it comes across, leaves a lot to be desired. However, his products have backed up his claims so far. If the GR07's value is any indication, then the earphone-formally-known-as-the-GR08 (I refuse to call it the V7007) will be about as good as he claims.

I kind of want something like that newish Woo CD transport to 1) see if it has any advantages over using the disc drive in my PC 2) have something more akin to "just a CD player" when I'm feeling too lazy to use my computer for such (as unintuitive as that sounds). Also, there's something I just find aesthetically pleasing about it.

Apparently the GR08 is going to be renamed the V7007 which is obviously meant to invoke the K3003. Their CEO makes some pretty bold claims about the K3003, going so far as to call it out on being flawed.

If I were to pick one overarching theme for this year---for me personally---it would be "reflection."

This was a year that involved a lot of self-assesment in all areas of my life, and both because of this and as a direct result of this, it was also a year that involved a lot of change. I finally confronted issues that had been festering for some time, getting out of an ultimately unfulfilling relationship and learning some things about myself in the process. I feel like I have a better perspective of my career and where I'm going, at least compared to where I was before; the decision to go for what I considered something of a long shot paid off. I struggled with the prospect of moving for some time, but I think I'll be happier with these new arrangements despite the temporary stress of it. Also I've been reflecting on my health issues and what they mean for my life and even my personal identity.

Getting back to audio, I've been reflecting quite a bit this year on what I want from this hobby along with the role it plays in the lives of others. I'd say my priorities have changed somewhat and are still in the process of changing, with more yet to come. This was the year of portable audio for me. I got into in-ear monitors, DAPs, and portable amps in a major way; it was the year I went through the customs-ordering process for the first time. It was also a year in which I resolved to downsize my collection and just focus on certain areas of interest: mostly open electrostatic headphones ("earspeakers") and IEMs.

As far as general trends go, it seems like hybrid earphone designs were all the rage this year in the realm of portable audio. For universals the K3003 was one of the main trendsetters, with other companies releasing designs that followed in its footsteps (some more closely than others...). Then there were some rather novel engineering feats like those Cardas Ear Mirror Vaporware IEMs and the Flat4 which just exude creativity. Overall, the emphasis was seemingly less on "raw power" and how many drivers one could fit into a shell and more on unique and creative implementation. On the customs side I think this is seen most overtly---or at least most readily---in JHA's Freq-Phase and UM's Platform Pure 6 with its active crossover. Then there's UE which is taking a different approach and extending the very definition of "customs" with their Personal Reference Monitor. This brings us to one of my favorite trends in earphones this year: the universal-fit custom. I suppose this goes back to the notion of hybrids mentioned above, only now we're talking about form-factor instead of drivers. To my thinking this offers a good compromise between universals and customs, capturing some of the benefits of the latter while eschewing some of the hassle. Now that they're freed from the constraint of using cylindrical, tube-shaped shells, I think we may see some really inspiring universals in the coming years.

This year saw the emergence of quite a few new prospects in the category of closed-headphones: the Momentum, MDR-1, UE4000, UE6000, UE9000, those Parrot Zik thingamajigs, M100, ESW11LTD, Ultrasone Signature DJ, D600, D7100, new Audez'e prototypes, Muramasa VIII, the Pandora line, TH600, TH900, etc. As far as full-sized headphones go, I think it's safe to say this was the prevailing trend for this year both in terms of products released and products announced. At the same time there were some interesting takes on older approaches: the new Jecklin Float QA for helmet-class two-speakers-on-your-head 'stats and the JPS Labs ABYSS for one-sided orthos.

This year also saw the "opening up" of the electrostatic headphone niche somewhat. With great new amps like the Liquid Lightning and Electra being released, consumers have more choices than ever before. There've been more than a few new Stax owners 'round these parts, which helps to inject new life into a scene that was frankly getting pretty stagnant and settled in its ways. New voices = usually good. Also, awareness of the Koss ESP/950 has been growing and more and more head-fiers are taking advantage of the periodic sales (when it drops to around $550 - 600) to become first-time 'stat owners. Coupled with the new Stax portables, Edifier backing Stax financially, and rumors of new Jades from Head-Direct and a new 'stat from Sennheiser ... it's a good time to be getting into electrostatic headphones.

* * * * * * *

Some highlights for me this year (all "IMHO" of course) ...

Headphones:

Fostex TH900 ---> Best headphone of the year. In fact, this may be the best dynamic headphone since the R10 IMHO.

Jecklin Float QUAD Atelier ---> Runner-up. In terms of pure sound quality, these best the TH900. They'd be my top pick if it weren't for the current reliability issues.

HiFiMan HE-400 ---> Best commercial headphone under $500

Audio-Technica ATH-ESW11LTD ---> Best "not bad, but could have been better" headphone.

Denon AH-D7100 ---> Worst headphone of the year.

Final Audio Design Muramasa VIII ---> Most insane headphone of the year I can't talk about.

--> Portable: Leckerton UHA-6S and possibly Sony PHA-1 or a certain secret portable amp from a manufacturer I like that may or may not come out, but I'm really hoping will come out, but I can't talk about...

I think my biggest 2013 audio "project" will be trying to get back into actually listening to music at home. For the past several months or so I've been letting most of my stuff gather dust while I just use IEMs straight out of my iPod. My sessions with with the Conductor and the Balancing Act have been exceptions, not the rule.

Step one will be cleaning my room and improving the general aesthetic of it. I want to enjoy being in there, not just comfortable in the worst, personally destructive/enabling way. I want to put an aquarium where I currently have a pile of old boxes and get what I'd consider to be a reading chair in there somewhere, probably where I have a palm tree (not the huge wonderful one) that's not doing so well and should probably be relocated anyways.

I curious about the TH600's and... not much else at the moment. I'm always somewhat tempted to get into electrostats, though; I almost got a discounted SR007 MKII the other day despite not yet owning an amp for them, but restrained myself. Super DACs and stats are two fields I should be in a better position all around before jumping into. I could also use more perspective on the hobby in general before taking such leaps which means actually living with a system for longer than a few weeks/months before upgrading it.

In a similar sense I'm also trying to get back into actually playing video games. I'm setting up all my consoles in the living room and will be hooking them up to an AV receiver I'm getting for Decemberween. I ordered Mega Man Legends and X7 because I feel like those are games that could ease me back into the hobby. I should also relocate another indoor tree I have and put a game rack in its place so they're actually out somewhere and accessible.

What's with you and indoor trees? Usually most people are happy with a few flowers and Creeping Charlies. You're the first person I've met who has small trees in his domicile. Trees are usually a lot harder to care for then a say a small rose bush a cactus a Peace Lily or a Creeping Charley. You my friend seem to be going all out on your horticultural pursuits.

Oh by the way, if you're looking into an aquarium do some research on the Discus fish. It's a gorgeous looking fish.